Women experience migraines more than men. Here’s a specialist’s guide to managing the pain.

November 11, 2026 / 7:00 AM EST / CBS News

Thirty-seven million Americans suffer from migraines, and women are three times more likely to get them than men.

Not only are migraines physically debilitating, they are very costly in terms of medical expenses and lost productivity. The World Health Organization even states that migraines are one of the top 10 most debilitating illnesses globally.

Despite being such a common illness, doctors and researchers don't know exactly what causes migraine.

Dr. Jessica Ailani is a board-certified neurologist with a specialty in headache disorders. As the director of MedStar Georgetown Headache Center in Washington, D.C., she studies migraines and treatment.

Ailani wants to make abundantly clear that a "migraine is more than a headache." The condition can last from hours to days and have several phases.

The "prodrome" phase can start up to a day before the migraine, with over 36 potential symptoms like irritability, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, neck pain, and even food cravings. Some individuals experience an "aura" — vision changes like flashing lights — during migraine attacks.

During a migraine, patients experience debilitating head pain, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and insomnia, among other symptoms, sometimes…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/healthwatch/